Dispute centres on finishing bonuses for electricians
Strike action at Balfour Beatty’s Woolwich Crossrail site is set to go ahead tomorrow (Wednesday) after talks to resolve the ongoing dispute fell down.
A spokesperson for union Unite said the industrial action would take place despite the strike scheduled for last week being suspended to allow for further talks.
He said: “Last week’s talks failed to make any progress so the scheduled strikes this week will be going ahead and there will be wider demonstrations.”
But the spokesperson said it was not possible to confirm the location of additional demonstrations.
The site has already been hit by three 24 hour strikes since the turn of the year with the dispute centring on improved pay and a finishing bonus – which is triggered when workers are laid off as the job comes to an end.
Union Unite said it has taken the action because Balfour Beatty has refused to pay an improved second tier payment as well as the finishing bonus.
The ongoing dispute involves 76 electricians employed by the contractor’s M&E arm, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, on the job.
The Woolwich station (pictured), designed by architect Weston Williamson, is the penultimate stop on the Crossrail line in the east. Services from the station are due to be up and running this December.
A Balfour Beatty spokesperson said: “We are committed to resolving this dispute and to the continued progress of the project. We are continuing to engage with Unite and our workforce.”
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